See the Discussion strand on Changing the Community name to World Languages for the context of this discussion...
Re: Google Translator...
I wonder if any of our readers can confirm the quality and accuracy of the Chinese translation which Allen posted in the other discussion? It has been my experience with Google's translator (based on how my students have tried to use it and it not doing the job...), that the service seems to promise much more than it can produce yet. I mean no disrespect to our friends at Google, but it isn't perfected yet. It is improving all the time, however!
For example, taking Allen's text, when I translate into French, what I get is not bad, but it is not completely correct. It is correct enough to get the gist, and even more. Clearly it is a work in progress, well on the way, and useful for much. Anyway, I am curious how accurate the Chinese translation is, just to compare notes.
In the meantime, for all of us who teach World Languages, how are you using Google translator? Or, if you aren't, why not? How are you directing students to use or not use this on-line tool? Personally, I have been asking students to use on-line dictionaries rather than translators. I like that the students can engage in thinking critically about which words to use based on the definitions and examples which are not so readily apparent in on-line translators. What do you think?
This is one of the great things about the on-line community forum here at Edutopia. Please contribute your thoughts and ideas! I love to hear what you all are doing and your creative ideas. Thanks again to Allen for his posting.
Don
On Twitter - @dr_dmd